The Peterborough Butterfly Run Returns To a Live In-Person Race For It’s 7 Year Anniversary

The Peterborough Butterfly Run is returning to an in-person run for the first time in four years at Millennium Park on April 30.

photo courtesy of the peterborough butterfly run.

GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation, in partnership with the Peterborough Butterfly Run executive committee and the Partners In Pregnancy Clinic (PiPC) are bringing back the annual 5 kilometre run/walk with the same route as previous years. Registration will open at 9 a.m., the 1K Memorial Walk and 1K Kids Fun Run at 10 a.m., opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m., and the 5K chip timed run/walk starting by 11 a.m.

The Memorial Walk is free, with 1 kilometre Kids Fun Run registration costing $5 and the 5K run is $45. This includes a race shirt, medal and various other items in the race kit.

The 2023 Peterborough Butterfly Run Executive Committee includes Kelly Ross, Jennie Vanier, Alessandra Friesen, Kori Mahon and Ashley Hickson and the event is also supported by a number of other dedicated volunteers.

Mike Dalliday will be speaking at the run, sharing his story with participants.

“The Butterfly Run has always been very special to my wife Jess and I. Even before our own battle, we had many friends and family members who had been affected by infertility, miscarriage and infant loss and the event felt like a way we could connect with and support those families,” said Dalliday. “In 2016 after we were married, we began our own infertility journey. But after almost 2 years of tests, appointments, 2 surgeries, close monitoring, and medications we were miraculously able to conceive our now 4-year-old daughter Rachel.”

“We were lucky enough to conceive our second child in 2020. However, after a rare complication of childbirth, both Jess and our newborn daughter Angeline tragically passed away in April of 2021. Through that experience and beyond, the Butterfly Run and the support and services it makes possible have been an integral part of our grief and healing journey. My family and I will be forever grateful for the Butterfly Run and the community of support it has brought into our lives when we needed it most,” Dalliday continued.

Funds raised at the event have been used to provide ongoing specialized education in Perinatal Bereavement Care to healthcare providers across Peterborough City and County, establish more than 10 lending libraries for individuals and their families located across Peterborough City and County, as well as the development of bereavement kits for families and individuals who experience early and later pregnancy loss and infant loss.

Since 2018, more than 500 bereavement kits have been provided to families and individuals by health care providers. Money raised at the race is also invested back into the race day itself as keeping costs affordable for participants, continuing to offer the free 1 kilometre Memorial Walk/Run, providing memorial bibs to all runners to write a personalized name or message and the display of memorial banners are all important aspects to creating the sense of community that the Peterborough Butterfly Run has become known for.

“GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation has been involved in the Peterborough Butterfly Run from its inception in 2017. We are excited to take a more lead role in organizing the event this year, under the watchful guidance of the Butterfly Run race committee” said Vince Bierworth, executive director for the GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation. “It’s great to be able to return to a live event this year as the last time we had a live event was in 2019. However, for those unable to attend on April 30th, or don’t feel comfortable doing so, we are also offering a virtual run option to build upon the success of the past two virtual runs and be as inclusive as possible.”

Registration is available online or in-person at Runner’s Life 174 Charlotte St., Peterborough.

Those who would like to find out more about sponsorship opportunities can email Vince@GPHSF.ca or PTBOButterflyRun@gmail.com.

For those who are unable to join on April 30, but would still like to support, a virtual option is also available. 

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Peterborough Artists Create Belly Painting Photos For Pregnant Women

Owners Rosie & Vange

Peterborough-based makeup and body painting business Faces by 2 has a unique service, offering belly painting photos for pregnant women.

Belly painting is an artistic and fun way to create a joyful memory of a pregnancy, and is completely safe to do the owners tell PTBOCanada as long as the right paints are used.

"We only use water based paints that are specifically for skin (face and body) and that are FDA approved," Faces by 2 owners/entrepreneurs Rosie and Vange tell PTBOCanada. "They are safe for mom and baby, and can be washed off with soap and water. Every mom that has had their belly painted with us has loved it!"

Rosie and Vange, both moms themselves, tell PTBOCanada that the 8th month of pregnancy is the ideal time to paint a belly, as by then the women has a nice round belly.

"The process starts by choosing a theme and drafting a design that mom agrees to," they say. "It takes about two hours to complete a design. It is done comfortably on a reclining chair giving mom a few brakes in between, all of this followed by a photo session. The paint stays on until mom decides to wash it off."

"We love doing belly painting—especially for first time moms," Rosie and Vange tell PTBOCanada. "Pregnancy is sometimes not a fun process to endure, but we feel that belly painting is a joyful thing to do. Moms get to show off their bellies in an artistic way. Plus, the brushes feel nice on the skin and it makes the baby move! At the end of the painting and photoshoot experience, moms feel happy and beautiful."

Visit Faces by 2 on Facebook and on their website to learn more about their belly painting and other services.

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Peterborough Has Higher Than Average Smoking Rates Among Pregnant Women

And a new program has been developed that will help them quit:

[YouTube]

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